WHEREAS, Melanie J. Dressel was born in Colville, Washington where her father owned a jewelry store and was Chief of the volunteer fire department; and

WHEREAS, Melanie attended the University of Washington, and graduated with a political science degree; and

WHEREAS, After graduating, Melanie went to work at the Bank of California in Tacoma, where she worked for 14 years; and later moved to Puget Sound National Bank, where she directed the private banking division; and

WHEREAS, Melanie was part of the original team that founded Columbia Bank in 1993; and, in 1997, Melanie was promoted to Executive Vice President of retail banking where she directed the bank's branch network and its operations, investments, private banking, and marketing/communications divisions; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, Melanie was appointed as Columbia Bank's President; and, in 2003, Melanie became Columbia Bank's Chief Executive Officer; and

WHEREAS, Under Melanie's leadership, Columbia Bank grew from one branch to over one hundred forty branches in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, Melanie was honored as Community Banker of the Year by American Banker Magazine and has been named one of "The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking" by the magazine seven times; and

WHEREAS, Melanie served on several boards, including the Boards of Puget Sound Energy (Chair), Executive Council for a Greater Tacoma (past Chair), Washington Bankers Association (past Chair), Washington Roundtable, and the Washington State Historical Society; and

WHEREAS, Melanie also served on the American Bankers Council, the ABA Grassroots Committee, the Bellarmine Benefactors' Trust, and was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC); and

WHEREAS, At home, Melanie showed her devotion to her family by sending weekly cookie packages to her family, and by flying to California on weekends to watch her son play football for Humboldt State University; and

WHEREAS, Despite her many commitments, Melanie always found time to make full Sunday dinners for her family, where she enjoyed playing with her grandkids; and

WHEREAS, Melanie is survived by her husband, Bob; adult sons, Robert and Brent; and two grandchildren;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Ms. Melanie J. Dressel and remember her successful career and devotion to her family.